The Spirit of Obon

Thursday, August 28th, 2025

By Léo Azambuja

When the first Japanese immigrants arrived in Hawai‘i in the 19th century to work on sugar plantations, they brought the bon dance with them, which would become an integral, colorful part of Hawaiʻi’s folk and religious tradition.

“It’s a symbolic dance, where we dance with our departed loved ones who have passed on. And this is a very traditional Japanese and Buddhist practice,” Buddhist Bishop Shuji Komagata said at the Guzeiji Soto Mission’s Bon Dance in Kaunakakai Saturday evening.

During the Obon season, the spirits of the deceased return home to visit their families. Chochins, or paper lanterns, help the spirits find their way home and join their families in the bon dances.…

Clinic Will Help Residents Pick Wheelchair

Thursday, August 21st, 2025

By Léo Azambuja
An upcoming clinic in Kaunakakai will help residents who use a wheelchair to get around to figure out the best equipment to improve their mobility and quality of life. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t have to be the costliest wheelchair.
“It’s not necessarily the most expensive (wheelchair), it’s just finding what works right for that patient and their needs at that moment,” said Dr. Brianne Childs, the only professional with a doctorate in physical therapy serving Molokai.
On Aug. 27, the Wheelchair Seating Clinic hosted by Wellness in Motion and Cade Medical will do an in-depth assessment and fitting for patients who may need or already use a wheelchair.…

Party Like 1979

Thursday, August 21st, 2025

By Léo Azambuja

The 1970s were challenging for the United States: the inflation, Watergate, the oil crisis, the Vietnam War withdrawal, the Iran hostage crisis and a rising social inequality. But the 70s also gave us disco, bell-bottoms, platform shoes and big afros. It gave us Cecilio and Kapono, Kalapana, Brothers Cazimero and Keola Beamer. 

“Though our student days may pass, celebrating the class of the 70s bash,” was the slogan for a large 1970s themed party organized for all the graduating classes of that stormy decade at Mitchell Pauole Center last Saturday evening. 

“Getting together is so much fun. We were raised together, and it’s a tight community,” event co-organizer Esther Torres-Umi said.…

The Beauty and Function of the Kukui Lei

Thursday, August 21st, 2025

By Léo Azambuja

Sitting under a large kukui tree, a diverse group of women was eager to learn a Hawaiian cultural practice dating back several hundred years. Besides creating a cooling shade from the hot sun, the kukui tree also provided its leaves for the lei po‘o the women would make.

“Practice makes better,” Kawailahia Purdy said while teaching 20 women of different ages and backgrounds how to use the leaves of the kukui tree to make lei at the Lei Haku Kukui Workshop in Hoʻolehua Saturday morning.

Her hands gracefully weaved the kukui leaves and flowers into a ti leaf strand, making it look a lot easier than it actually is.…